Citrea Launches Bitcoin ZK-Rollup Mainnet, Unlocks BTC Lending and ctUSD Stablecoin

TLDR

• Citrea mainnet unlocks BTC lending and stablecoin settlement on Bitcoin ZK-rollups.
• Bitcoin ZK-rollup expands into lending, trading, and structured on-chain products.
• Citrea boosts Bitcoin utility with programmable finance and zk-based settlement.
• BTC moves beyond storage as Citrea enables active on-chain market participation.
• Citrea launches ctUSD and cBTC to power Bitcoin’s expanding financial ecosystem.

Citrea introduced its mainnet as the Bitcoin ZK-rollup ecosystem expanded across new financial uses and on-chain activity grew. The Bitcoin ZK-rollup now supports BTC-backed lending and stablecoin settlement through a unified framework. The launch marked a shift toward broader utility as the Bitcoin ZK-rollup aimed to anchor capital markets directly on-chain.

Citrea Mainnet Expands Bitcoin Application Layer

Citrea activated its Bitcoin ZK-rollup mainnet to support programmable financial tools across the Bitcoin network. The platform batches transactions with zkEVM processing and then settles them on-chain through Bitcoin ZK-rollup proofs. This design enhances security because the Bitcoin ZK-rollup uses the base layer for settlement and data availability.

The network introduced ctUSD and cBTC to strengthen liquidity within its expanding architecture. The Bitcoin ZK-rollup aligns both assets with transparent verification to reduce external trust points. The system also recreates transaction states through a Bitcoin node because it stores all data on the chain.

Citrea deployed the Clementine bridge built on BitVM to extend functionality without protocol changes. This bridge operates with the Bitcoin ZK-rollup to verify actions through dispute mechanisms. The platform also targets broader adoption through infrastructure that supports more complex and secure on-chain interactions.

BTC Lending Infrastructure and Structured Products

Citrea started BTC-backed lending frameworks through partnerships that integrate directly with the Bitcoin ZK-rollup. Morpho and UltraYield helped build lending tools that use ctUSD and cBTC across early applications. This approach enables new flows as the Bitcoin ZK-rollup supports transparent settlement for collateral activity.

The platform also advanced structured products built with support from Keyrock. These offerings combine both on-chain and off-chain elements while relying on Bitcoin ZK-rollup settlement. The network expects growing demand as BTC-linked yield strategies gain access to a native execution layer.

More than 30 applications plan to launch on the network. These tools cover trading, liquidity, and privacy uses that rely on the Bitcoin ZK-rollup framework. The expansion aims to shift BTC from static storage toward active market participation.

Stablecoin Liquidity and Ecosystem Growth

Citrea introduced ctUSD to strengthen settlement across its Bitcoin ZK-rollup ecosystem. MoonPay issues the stablecoin while M0 provides the underlying infrastructure. The asset uses cash and Treasury bills for full backing to meet emerging compliance rules.

The Bitcoin ZK-rollup benefits from integrated stablecoin access because it supports on-chain trading flows. The token operates in most regions and aims to anchor institutional settlement paths. It also improves platform reliability because ctUSD works within Bitcoin-native markets.

Citrea created a dashboard for tracking activity and managing assets. The Bitcoin ZK-rollup records user actions from the first day to support transparency. The team expects network growth to increase miner revenue as on-chain demand rises.

The post Citrea Launches Bitcoin ZK-Rollup Mainnet, Unlocks BTC Lending and ctUSD Stablecoin appeared first on CoinCentral.